根据中国长城工业集团有限公司（长城公司）与尼日利亚通信卫星有限公司（尼星公司）于2009年3月24日签署的《尼日利亚通信卫星1R（尼星1R）合同》，中国长城工业集团有限公司作为总承包商，会同其分承包商中国运载火箭技术研究院、中国空间技术研究院和中国卫星发射测控系统部，使用长征三号乙运载火箭在西昌卫星发射中心发射，向尼日利亚在轨交付大功率通信卫星尼星1R。
 尼星公司成立于2006年4月，是专门从事尼日利亚通信卫星运营及管理的国有企业。
尼星1R项目的合同是中国航天与国际用户签署的第四个在轨交付通信卫星的合同，尼星1R是2007年5月发射的尼星1号的替代卫星。通过发射这颗卫星，树立了中国航天负责任的形象，维护了中国航天的信誉，奠定了拓展海外市场及后续项目的基础，也体现了中国人民对尼日利亚人民的友好情谊。
本次发射是长征三号乙火箭的第18次发射，也是长征系列运载火箭的第154次发射。
The Nigerian Communications Satellite 1R Contract was signed between Nigerian
Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT LTD) and China Great Wall
Industry Corporation (CGWIC) on March 24, 2009. Pursuant to the Contract,
CGWIC, with its subcontractor China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), China
Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), and China Satellite Launch &
Tracking Control General (CLTC) will launch NigComSat-1R in Xichang Satellite
Launch Center (XSLC) by a Long March 3B launch vehicle (LM-3B) and deliver it in
orbit.
Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Limited was incorporated as a
limited liability company in April 2006, which is a state-owned enterprise responsible
for the operation and management of Nigerian Communications Satellites.
The NigComSat-1R, the replacement satellite of NigComSat-1 launched in May
2007, is the fourth in-orbit delivery contract for communications satellite signed
between CGWIC and international customers. By identifying the problem and
analyzing the failure mode, numbers of improvements based on tests and experiments
have been applied to follow-on satellite programs, and the reliability of satellite has
been enhanced constantly. Furthermore, China Aerospace Science and Technology
Corporation (CASC) and its relevant organizations reached a decision to build and
launch NIGCOMSAT-1R with no extra cost to Nigerian customer.
 NigComSat - 1R paves the way for the
international marketing development of China
Aerospace and further confirms the friendship
between Nigerian and China.
The NigComSat-1R launch mission is the 18th
flight of LM-3B launch vehicle and the 154th
flight of Long March family. |
